Instant Replay November

What You Know:
Because of Ohio States surprise loss to Illinois last Saturday, LSU becomes the AP No. 1 team for the second time this season.

What You Need to Know:
If things play out accordingly this last weekend before Thanksgiving, the center of the college football universe will relocate to Lawrence, Kansas, site of the oddly-important Missouri/Kansas game on November 24. At 10-0, the overachieving Kansas Jayhawks have to be considered the biggest surprise in a college football season absolutely filled with them. (In six of the past seven weeks, at least one team in the top five of the AP Poll has lost.) Not too far down the shocker scale are the 9-1 Missouri Tigers, a Big 12 surprise that whipped No. 21 Illinois earlier in the year and has scored 30+ in every game its suited up for.

If Kansas loses this weekend against Iowa State or next to Missouri, the BCS committee should breathe a subtle sigh of relief. The largely-untested Jayhawks will become yesterdays news and fall near the bottom of the heap of one-loss teams. However, if KU wins 12 straight games, itll be in the Big 12 championship game (likely) against Oklahoma (9-1). Win that contest, too, and no matter what the Oregon Ducks (8-1) or West Virginia Mountaineers (8-1) do the rest of the way, Kansas will have the necessary numbers for a BCS title invite to play LSU, the current No. 1 and arguably the only squad that has control of its own destiny.

Three things have caused this seasons leveled playing field across the country: 1) Appalachian States mammoth September upset of Michigan gave the little guys some hope; 2) Perennial powers like USC and Florida are having pedestrian seasons; 3) Second-tier players, like overachieving Kansas QB Todd Reesing, have long memories and continue making bigger football schools pay for passing them up during recruiting time.

What You Know:
The Boston Celtics are off to their first 6-0 start since the 87-88 season.

What You Need to Know:
For the current team to rewrite the Celtics record of 14 straight victories to open a campaign, a lot has to go their way. Bostons next eight opponents range from the sad (Miami Heat) to the so-so (L.A. Lakers) to the super (Orlando). Expecting the new-look team to click on all levels for another two weeks is just too much to ask. Yeah, the combo of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen is good, but its a lil early to be comparing them to Michael Jordans 95-96 Bulls, right? Right?

The more realistic approach for basketball fans basking in what Bostons done thus far is to anticipate the squad going 7-1 or 6-2 over the next eight. Contrary to what youve seen on Sports Center lately, KG cant get 20 and 20 every night. And no matter how locked in Pierce is, the man cant always drop 13 points in a three-minute span like he did to Indiana the other night. And Ray Rays gotta come down to earth from his 48% three-point shooting, right? Of course he does.

For arguments sake though, lets say the Celts run off 10 or 11 consecutive wins to start the year. That means the "Lucky Charms" (What, you gotta better name for the trio?) would have scored their usual 70 points, but that also means supporters like Rajon Rando, Kendrick Perkins and top reserves James Posey and Eddie House would have made solid contributions, too. So far, Randos averaged about nine points and four dimes at the point. Perkins, whos holding down the center role for now, is scoring five and grabbing another five boards. For Boston to even think about a 13-1 or 14-0 start, the big mans gonna need to up those numbers just a touch, right? Most definitely.

What You Know:
Baseballs free agency pool has opened, and third baseman Alex Rodriguez ($350 million!) is its biggest catch.

What You Need to Know:
Right after the World Series, A-Rods cutthroat agent, Scott Boras, announced that his client was forgoing the final three years of his lucrative New York Yankees deal to test the free agent waters. The Yanks claim to have offered the talented third baseman a five-year extension worth an additional $139 million. A-Rod didnt flinch, saying that he wanted something more along the lines of 10 years, $350 million for his services. Feeling the asking price was too rich for even their blood, the Yankees said they were parting ways with the games best player.

But if what the New York Post, MLB.com and a few other sources are buzzing about is true, the two sides may have more to say to one another then what was originally thought. Of course, thats terrible news for baseball fans in Los Angeles (Angels and Dodgers) and Queens (Mets), the places rumored to be most interested in Rodriguez big bat. Who knows exactly whats going on now? All of the soundbytes and well-see-who-blinks-first games could have been mere bargaining tactics to help in negotiations.

Greed or no greed, Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez, the American Leagues likely MVP, is gonna get most of the paper hes after. With 54 home runs, 156 RBI and a steady glove this year, his presence on the field is undeniable. Flip on the TV any time over the summer and you see that his impact on the game is unmistakable. That said, if he never puts on a Yankees jersey again, the Bronx wont be burning. Catcher Jorge Posada just re-upped. Future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera will likely do the same. As for question mark at third base, dont be shocked if New York pulls out all the stops to get Florida Marlins superstar Miguel Cabrera in pinstripes.